Pivotable handheld remote control device

ABSTRACT

A hand-held remote control device includes a left hand grip portion and a substantially mirror image right hand grip portion, the two portions being pivotable with respect to one another to activate a signal generator to remotely control an operation of an amusement device such as reconfiguration of or stunt by a toy vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/377,564, “Toy Vehicle”, filed Feb. 28, 2003, which claimed benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/384,477, “Toy Vehicle”, filed May 31, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates generally to handheld control devices and particularly to controllers used to remotely control operation of toy vehicles. It is known to employ single position switches or dual position toggle switches supported within housings of conventional handheld radio-frequency wireless controllers to control an operation of a controlled device such as a toy vehicle. Such conventional operational switches are typically manipulated by a user's thumbs. It is believed that a new handheld control device providing a novel operating switch arrangement and a corresponding novel operating motion to activate the controller switch would be desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Briefly stated, the invention is a hand-held controller configured to control an operation of an amusement device. The controller comprises a multi-part housing including at least a left-hand grip portion and a right-hand grip portion. The left-hand grip portion and the right-hand grip portion are substantially the same size and are pivotable with respect to each other to control the operation of the amusement device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

[0005] In the drawings:

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a remote control device in accordance with the present invention;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a remote control device in accordance with the present invention;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating electrical and electromechanical elements of the remote control devices of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a toy vehicle for use with the remote control device of FIG. 2, the toy vehicle being shown in solid lines in a neutral operating position as well as in a pivoted operating position (shown in phantom).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower” and “upper” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the remote control device and designated parts thereof. The word “a” is defined to mean “at least one”. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. In the drawings, like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout.

[0011] A first preferred embodiment of a remote control device 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The first embodiment remote control device 10 comprises a multi-part housing having a left hand grip portion 20 and a substantially mirror image right hand grip portion 30. The left-hand grip portion 20 and the right-hand grip portion 30 are substantially the same size and shape and are preferably aligned side by side to form a common plane. The left-hand grip portion 20 and the right hand grip portion 30 are pivotable with respect to each other in a direction generally perpendicular to the common plane to control an operation of a controllable amusement device 80, such as a toy car (not shown). More particularly, in a first neutral position 12, the left hand grip portion 20 and the right hand grip portion 30 are generally symmetrically aligned. In this neutral position 12, no control signal is generated to control operation of the controllable amusement device 80. In a first pivoted position 16, however, the left hand and right hand grip portions 20, 30 are pivoted with respect to each other about a pivot axis 14, and a control signal is generated in this first pivoted position 16 to control an operation of the controllable amusement device 80.

[0012] The left- and right-hand grip portions 20, 30 preferably comprise left and right housings 22 and 32, respectively. A left control switch 24 is preferably mounted in the left housing 22, and a right control switch 34 is preferably mounted in the right housing 32. If the controllable amusement device 80 is a toy car (not shown), then the left control switch 24 could be used, for example, to control forward motion of the toy car, while the right control switch 34 could be used, for example, to control steering of the toy car. See, for example, the vehicle disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/377,564 and 60/384,477, incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. Each discloses a remotely controlled toy vehicle with a chassis twist mechanism which can be activated each time the grip portions 20, 30 are pivoted from the first neutral position 12 to the first pivoted position 16.

[0013] The remote control device 10 comprises an electrical switch 40 configured to change states with pivotal movement of the left- and right-hand portions 20, 30 with respect to each other. More particularly, the left and right hand grip portions are aligned side-by-side to form a common plane in the neutral position. When the remote control device 10 is moved to the first pivoted position 16, with the handgrip portions 20, 30 pivoting relative to one another in a direction or directions transverse to the common plane, the electrical switch 40 generates a first control signal which is sent to control circuitry 50. The switch 40 may be in any of a variety of configurations, including partial slip rings, a brush and contact, etc. for rotary action, throw or depression activation for straight line activation, such as at the end of the pivotal movement, or proximity activation (e.g. Hall effect switch). The control circuitry 50 is conventional, and of a type well-known in the art of controller design. Upon receipt of the first control signal from the electrical switch 40, the control circuitry 50 in turn generates a second control signal which may be delivered to the controllable amusement device 80 either by a hard-wired connection 52 or wirelessly. The control circuitry 50 could include a radio transmitter to send the control signals via an antenna 60. Light or sound transmitters could also be used for wireless delivery.

[0014] The control circuitry 50 is also preferably capable of processing inputs from the left control switch 24 and the right control switch 34 and further capable of transmitting control signals via the antenna 60 or the hard-wired connection 52 based on these inputs. The control circuitry 50 may also be configured to receive signals from the controllable device 80. The remote control device 10 further includes a power source 70. The power source 70 is preferably provided by dry cell batteries. Alternatively, the artisan will recognize that the power supply 70 could be a conventional rechargeable battery pack, solar cells, capacitive or transformer power supplies or other sources of electrical power.

[0015] The housings 22 and 32 are preferably formed from conventional materials having desirable strength, durability, ease of fabrication and low cost characteristics, for example, polymeric materials. It will be understood that the remote control device 10 can be formed of a variety materials, and may be modified to include additional switches.

[0016] A second preferred embodiment of a remote control device, or controller 110, in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The controller 110 comprises a multi-part housing having a left hand grip portion 120 and a substantially mirror image right hand grip portion 130. The left-hand grip portion 120 and the right hand grip portion 130 are about the same size and shape and are pivotable with respect to each other to control an operation of the controllable amusement device 80, for example, an operation of a screw drive toy vehicle 200 (see FIG. 4). Toy vehicle 200 has right and left pontoons 210, each pontoon 210 capable of rotation independently of the other in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The pontoons 210 are further capable of being pivoted relative to a central body of the toy vehicle 200 from a neutral position 210 a to a first pivoted position 210 b, wherein aft ends of the pontoons 210 are moved closer to one another as illustrated in FIG. 4, or to a second pivoted position (not illustrated), wherein the aft ends of the pontoons 210 are moved away from one another.

[0017] In this embodiment 110, the hand grip portions 120, 130 are generally aligned in a common plane, and are pivotable in the common plane. More particularly, each hand grip portion 120, 130 has a first end 120 a, 130 a and a second end 120 b, 130 b, respectively. In the neutral position 112, the left hand grip portion 120 and the right hand grip portion 130 are positioned generally symetrically. In a first pivoted position 116, shown in phantom in FIG. 2, the first ends 120 a, 130 a are pivoted toward one another about a pivot axis 114, and a first control signal is generated to control a first operation of the controllable amusement device 80. Similarly, in a second pivoted position 118, also shown in phantom in FIG. 2, wherein the second ends 120 b and 130 b are pivoted toward one another, a second control signal is generated to control a second operation of the controllable amusement device 80.

[0018] More particularly, the left- and right-hand grip portions 120, 130 preferably comprise left and right housings 122 and 132, respectively. A left control switch 124 is preferably a three position switch mounted in the left housing 122, and a right control switch 134 is preferably another three position switch mounted in the right housing 132. If the controllable amusement device 80 is toy vehicle 210, then the left control switch 124 could be used, for example, to control the direction of rotation of left pontoon 210, while the right control switch 134 could be used, for example, to control direction of rotation of right pontoon 210. The three positions of each switch 124, 134 being clockwise drive, neutral and counterclockwise drive.

[0019] The controller 110 comprises an electrical signal generator, preferably a three position switch 140, configured to change states with pivotal movement of the left- and right-hand portions 120, 130 with respect to each other. More particularly, when the controller 110 is moved to the first pivoted position 116, the electrical switch 140 generates a first control signal which is sent to control circuitry 150. The control circuitry 150 is conventional, and of a type well-known in the art of controller design. Similarly, when the controller 110 is moved to the second pivoted position 118, the electrical switch 140 generates a second control signal. Upon receipt of the first or second control signals from the electrical switch 140, the control circuitry 150 in turn generates a third or a fourth control signal which may be delivered to the controllable amusement device 80 wirelessly via the antenna 60 to control operation of the controllable amusement device 80. Alternatively, the third and fourth control signals could be delivered over the hard wired connection 52. No control signal (or an equivalent neutral position indicating signal) is generated by switch 140 in the neutral position 112 of the controller 110.

[0020] Similar to the remote controlled device control circuitry 50 described above, the controller control circuitry 150 is also preferably capable of processing inputs from the left control switch 124 and the right control switch 134 and further capable of transmitting control signals via the antenna 60. The controller 110 could be provided with a hard-wired connection, similar to the hard-wired connection 52 discussed above. The control circuitry 150 may also be configured to receive signals from the controllable device 80.

[0021] The housings 122 and 132 are preferably formed from conventional materials having desirable strength, durability, ease of fabrication and low cost characteristics, for example, polymeric materials. It will be understood that the controller 110 can be formed of a variety materials, and may be modified to include additional switches.

[0022] The invention may be adapted such that the pivotal movement of the left and right hand grip portions 20, 30 and 120, 130 mimics a physical movement of the controlled device 80. For example, with particular reference now to FIGS. 2 and 4, the pivotal movement of the left and right-hand portions 120, 130 can be made to cause pivotal movement of the pontoons 210 which mimics the movement of the left and right-hands portions 120, 130. That is, the controller 110 may be designed such that movement into the first pivoted position 116 (wherein the first ends 120 a and 130 a are moved closer together) results in movement of the pontoons 210 into the first pivoted position 210 b (wherein the aft ends of the pontoons 210 are moved closer together).

[0023] From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention comprises a hand held remote control device or controller having a left hand grip portion and a right hand grip portion, with the two portions being pivotable with respect to one another to activate a switch to generate a control signal to control an operation of a controlled device. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A hand-held controller configured to control an operation of an amusement device, the controller comprising a multi-part housing including at least a left-hand grip portion and a right-hand grip portion, wherein the left-hand grip portion and the right-hand grip portion are substantially the same size and are pivotable with respect to each other to control the operation of the amusement device.
 2. The controller of claim 1 being configured to operate remotely from the amusement device.
 3. The controller of claim 1 wherein the operation controlled by pivotal movement of the right-hand grip and left-hand grip portions is a physical movement of the amusement device.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The controller of claim 1 further comprising an electrical signal generator configured to respond to pivotal movement of the left-hand grip portion relative to the right-hand grip portion from a neutral position into at least a first pivoted position.
 6. The controller of claim 5 wherein the electrical signal generator is configured to respond to pivotal movement of the left-hand grip portion relative to the right-hand grip portion from a neutral position into a second pivoted position different from the first position.
 7. The controller of claim 5 further comprising control circuitry activated by the electrical signal generator to generate a control signal to control the operation of the amusement device.
 8. The controller of claim 7 further comprising an antenna operably connected to the control circuitry.
 9. The controller of claim 7 further comprising a hard-wired connection between the hand-held controller and the amusement device, the control signal being communicated from the control circuitry to the amusement device by the hard-wired connection.
 10. The controller of claim 1 being configured to further control operation of a propulsion mechanism in the amusement device.
 11. The controller of claim 1 being configured to further control operation of a steering mechanism in the amusement device.
 12. A combination comprising the controller of claim 1 and a toy vehicle amusement device remotely controllable with the controller.
 13. The combination of claim 12 further comprising a first electrical switch and a second electrical switch to control at least forward motion and steering of the toy vehicle.
 14. The combination of claim 12 further comprising an electrical signal generator configured to change states with pivotal movement of the left- and right-hand grip portions with respect to each other, to initiate a control signal to the toy vehicle.
 15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the control signal causes rearward motion of the toy vehicle.
 16. The controller of claim 1 wherein the grip portions are alignable side-by-side to define a common plane and wherein the grip portions are pivotable with respect to one another in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane.
 17. The controller of claim 1 wherein the grip portions are alignable side-by-side to define a common plane and wherein the grip portions are pivotable with respect to one another in a direction generally parallel to the plane.
 18. (canceled) 